Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Is this abusive or was I inconsiderate?

22 replies

TearsForFears24 · 07/10/2023 10:02

Been with DP 6 years, have a toddler DD together. I have a teen DS from a previous relationship, we all live together in DPs house. So not to dripfeed, DP has issues with alcohol, but holds down a FT, responsible job (this is relevant to the post) So...DS has been quite poorly recently with heavy colds. He was up coughing most of Thursday night. Yesterday morning I told DS he could stay off school before I went to work as he had a temperature and was starting to lose his voice. I then received an angry phonecall from DP asking why DS was off school and told me that DS should "man up". He also told this to DS (who was thankfully half asleep and didn't hear this comment). I was upset by this as my colleagues overheard the conversation and weren't happy at how he spoke to me. DD was at nursery yesterday and I suspect that DP was annoyed at DS being home as he wanted to drink during the day. I come home after 2100 and DP is (surprisingly) in great form. Really jovial. I wasn't expecting him to be awake as he starts work at 0600 today. I tell him I'll finish getting toddler DD settled as he had an early start. He goes back to bed. I see he had drank about 3/4 of a bottle of vodka at some point that day/evening.
I had brought takeaway from a place near my work back for me and DS to eat as I hadn't eaten since the day before. DP suddenly comes back downstairs and asks where his food is. I initially thought he was joking, but explained I didn't think he'd want any as the takeaway place is about 20mins from our house and he has specifically told me before not to bring him food back from there as "it's cold" by the time I get home. He went upstairs in a huff sent me a nasty message about how I should have offered him food and that "it wouldn't be forgotten" told me not to reply to his message as he was going to sleep, then blocked me. Toddler DD then runs into his bedroom and I bound up the stairs after her to take her back into her own bed. Whilst retrieving DD, I explained, very calmly, to DP why I didn't get him food and told him that I always offer him food when it's someplace local. To reiterate, he NEVER wants food from this place. He suddenly sat up in bed and started snarling "do not start me" repeatedly and said I need to know when to be quiet. I take DD and go I to her room feeling shaken. DP has unblocked me today(!) and has texted asking how DD is. I'm still feeling upset but unsure if I'm the one in the wrong for not offering him takeaway. I feel his reaction last night was utterly bizarre but I can't bring it up again or it will cause a row.

OP posts:
YesThatsATurdOnTheRug · 07/10/2023 10:05

I think you know you need to get your children out of this situation for their safety, let alone yours. He is an alcoholic, he behaved in an aggressive and unstable way. That is not ok.

Broccoliforever · 07/10/2023 10:06

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Broccoliforever · 07/10/2023 10:06

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Broccoliforever · 07/10/2023 10:07

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Sawaranga · 07/10/2023 10:08

It's abusive and you need to leave to protect both your kids.

It isn't you, it's him being an abuser.

Darby3785 · 07/10/2023 10:14

I think you know your DP is the problem

You didn't ask him about getting food because he told you not to - that's not inconsiderate he told you not to you were only doing what you thought was right.

You also should be able to bring something up with your partner without being worried about a blazing row.

You and your children deserve better.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 07/10/2023 10:21

Your relationship with this man is really at an end and its over anyway given his abuses of you all.

You need to get yourself and your children away from your alcoholic partner. Do not continue to raise your children within such a toxic, abusive and otherwise dysfunctional environment. He may well hold down a job, well for now anyway and until his alcoholism catches up with him. Its not relevant to the post at all.

This man's primary relationship is with drink, its not with you, and its never been with you either. All you've done here is enable him whilst you have your own issues relating to being codependent in this relationship. His thoughts centre around drink and where the next drink is going to come from. What did you learn about relationships when you were growing up and what do you want to teach your children about relationships now?. This is certainly not a role model for them to at all emulate.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 07/10/2023 10:21

What happened to you when you were growing up?. Did you see similar behaviour between your parents?.

wutheringkites · 07/10/2023 10:24

Was he looking after your toddler while drinking? That's the part I would be focussing on, not a spat about a takeaway.

ChaToilLeam · 07/10/2023 10:25

You know what the problem is.

The question is, what will you do about it?

Your children should not have to live with an aggressive alcoholic. And neither should you.

TearsForFears24 · 07/10/2023 12:48

Thank you everyone for the replies. @Broccoliforever DS and DP get on well but I think he resented DS being home as he felt his wings were being slightly clipped. Didn't stop him from drinking, but he definitely prefers having the house completely to himself when he wants a drink. I think its relevant to mention that DP owns the house as I have no security in that respect as it's only his name on the mortgage so I'm quite vulnerable if he did decide to end the relationship. I don't have any family to go to etc

OP posts:
RedAndWhiteCarnations · 07/10/2023 12:55

You clearly have a DP problem.

I think you also have a You problem - why are you accepting
1- to have him speak like this to you
2- treat your ds the way he does (and btw, did your ds test for covid?)
3- to be in such vulnerable position re the house (and dint worry he knows it too).

Time to review this relationship. Life with an alcoholic is NEVER, ever, easy. And always leaves marks on the people around them (that’s you and your two dcs btw). It doesn’t matter if he is a ‘working alcoholic’. His addiction will always come first (as you’ve noticed in this instance….)

Wolfiefan · 07/10/2023 13:03

Why are you focusing on whether he wants to end the relationship?? You should be doing so. Make plans to get out and get your child out of this situation.

Broccoliforever · 07/10/2023 13:06

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Comedycook · 07/10/2023 13:07

The food/takeaway stuff is irrelevant. Obviously you're not abusive.

You need to end the relationship...living with an alcoholic is incredibly damaging for children. I know..my father was one.

Mmhmmn · 07/10/2023 13:29

Whoever he was, whatever he was like when you met him is irrelevant as he's now a bad bastard. To you and to your DS. Do DS and yourself a massive life changing favour and send the 'D'P packing. You can't inflict an alcoholic father on DS, home is supposed to be everyone's safe place.

Bassetlover · 07/10/2023 15:31

He's looking after a toddler after drinking 3/4 bottle of vodka?

WallaceinAnderland · 07/10/2023 15:52

I'm quite vulnerable if he did decide to end the relationship

No, you are vulnerable if you STAY in the relationship. OP you really need to protect your children here. You must leave him for their sakes even if you won't do it for yours.

SallyWD · 07/10/2023 15:58

Bassetlover · 07/10/2023 15:31

He's looking after a toddler after drinking 3/4 bottle of vodka?

Yes this seems to be a key point that no one is picking up on. This is far more serious than whether you should have offered him a take away.

BlastedPimples · 07/10/2023 16:03

He wanted to drink alone on the house so he was angry at your ds.

He drank a load of vodka with your toddler around.

His personality changed suddenly to a scary aggressive one.

Any one of those events is a huge red flag. And can you leave him?

octoberfarm · 07/10/2023 16:38

YesThatsATurdOnTheRug · 07/10/2023 10:05

I think you know you need to get your children out of this situation for their safety, let alone yours. He is an alcoholic, he behaved in an aggressive and unstable way. That is not ok.

This. Sweetheart, you need to leave. You and your kids deserve so much more than this Flowers

Broccoliforever · 07/10/2023 18:11

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page